ISDA, the Alternative Investment Management Association, the European Association of Co-operative Banks, the European Banking Federation, the European Fund and Asset Management Association, Invest Europe, the Managed Funds Association, and the Nordic Securities Association have asked for a permanent exemption from margin requirements for equity options from the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) margin requirements.
Equity options play a significant part in the real economy. Imposing variation and initial margin requirements on these instruments would increase funding costs and operational complexity and could result in smaller EU counterparties ceasing to use equity options for hedging and risk mitigation purposes.
In addition, given some major jurisdictions are permanently exempting equity options from margin requirements, EU market participants would face a clear competitive disadvantage when dealing with non-EU counterparties.
Documents (1) for Joint Trade Associations Ask for EMIR Equity Option Margin Exemption
Latest
Updated OTC Derivatives Compliance Calendar
ISDA has updated its global calendar of compliance deadlines and regulatory dates for the over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives space.
Episode 60: Modelling Margin
The ISDA Standard Initial Margin Model has proved to be one of the most consequential industry models ever developed. The Swap talks with two industry veterans involved in its development. Please view this page via Chrome to access the recording.
ISDA Wins Digital Solution of the Year Award
ISDA has won Digital Solution of the Year at the GlobalCapital Global Derivatives Awards 2026 for the ISDA Digital Regulatory Reporting (DRR) initiative and the ISDA Notices Hub. The award recognizes ISDA’s continued work to develop mutualized digital solutions that...
ISDA Launches Digital Emissions Definitions
ISDA has launched a natively digital version of its documentation for emissions allowance transactions, enabling the framework to be updated more efficiently as emissions trading systems (ETSs) evolve. The 2026 ISDA Emissions Transactions Definitions provide standardized documentation for physically settled...